Deep well pumping mechanism



June 6, 1933; J. H. YOUNG 1,913,225

I DEEP WELL PUMPING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 24. 1952. 2 Sheets-Sheet lZhwentor June 6, 1933. J. H. YOUNG DEEP WELL PUMPING MECHANISM 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 24, 1932 Patented June 6, 1933 uNrrEo STATES.TQHN n. YOUNG, or WARREN, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEEP WELL PUMPING MECHANISM Application filed September 24,1932. SerialNo. 634,753.

p This invention relates to mechanism which is especially adapted forpumping, and more especially to such mechanism which is designed forpumping-deep oil wells. An object of the invention is.

well pumping mechanism of such design as to be capable of withstandingthe great strains imposed upon pumping apparatus when used in connectionwith oil wells of great depth, and in order to relieve excessive strainson the pump rod.

Another object of the invention is to counterbalance the excessiveweight of pump rods of great length when used in pumping oil wells, andof the liquid in the well tubing which is considerable in oil wellswhich under present methods sometimes are several thousand feet indepth.

Another object of the invention is to equaldown strokes of pumps of thecharacter referred to so that such power may be applied smoothly, thusavoiding unnecessary shocks and jars upon the pumping mechanism, andhence lessening the danger of the breakage of the pump rods due to suchsudden jars and vibrations.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the cost of pumpingequipment to a minimum by providing such equipment with the aforesaidshock reducing and power distributing means which, under the presentinvention,

contains a minimum number of parts to accomplish the objects aforesaid.

A further object of the invention is to reduce the weight of the pumpingequipment to a minimum consistent with the necessary strength anddisposition of the parts to resist all strains imposed upon theoperating mechanism during its normal operation- With the above andother important and valuable objects in view the invention consists inthe construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described,certain embodiments of the invention being illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows in elevation certain partsof a pumping apparatus for deep well pumps embodyingthe invention;

ize the power required in both the up and g Fig. 2 is an elevation atright angles to that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 illustrates in elevation a slightly modified form, and to provideFig. 4 is a similar view illustrating still a 'diiferent modification.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the well curbing is provided with anysuitable foundation or support, 1, 2, in which the members 1 may be ofconcrete or heavy timbers and supported thereon and secured thereto arethe timbers or slabs 2, preferably arranged in rectangular form toenclose the well tubing 4 whose upper end portion may be provided withthe usual stufiing box 5, through which and said tubing passes the pumprod 6.

Securely anchored in the foundation, 1, 2, V and as herein shownarranged in parallelism upon opposite sides of the pump barrel, are

uide rods 8, 8, the upper ends of these rods being threaded and passingthrough apertures in a plate 7, nuts-9 being run upon the threaded upperends of the guide rods for securing thereto the plate 7.' The plate 7,as will be seen, forms a rigid connection between the upper ends of theguide rods which rods are thereby held fixedly in spaced relation, andbraced so as to form with the foundation, a rigid structure. This isquite important as the guide rods 8 are subjected to severe lateralstrains during the operation of the pumping mechanism, as will moreclearly appear hereinafter.

The pump rod 6 is extended upwardly through the plate 7, and a tubularguiding sleeve 10 receives the upper portion of the rod, said sleevebeing provided at its upper end with a flange 100. between which flangeand the upper surface of the plate 7 a heavy spiral spring 11 isconfined. The lower portion of the sleeve 10 passes through a centralguiding aperture in the plate 7, which is of a size to receive thesleeve, and permit its free movement therethrough. The upper face of theflange 10a abuts against a lock nut 42 Y which is provided with a setscrew 43 for securing the lock nut rigidly to the rod 6. By thisconstruction the spring 11 is confined between the plate 7 and flange,and exerts an upward thrust to the pump rod.

A yoke 12, provided with holes therethrough which receive the guiderods, is thus mounted for reciprocating movements on said rods, the yokehaving a central aperture through which passes the pump rod 6, whichlatter is rigidly secured to and confined to reciprocating movementswith the yoke by .two lock nuts 13, 14, in engagement respectively, withthe lower and upper faces pf the yoke 12, and held to the pump rod byset screws 13a, 14a. Extending outwardly from opposite ends of the yoke'12, and in alignment with each other, are spindles 15, which arejournaled in tubular bearings 16 carried at the upper ends of the pitmen17. The lower ends of the pitmen are similarly provided with tubularbearing members 18 journaled upon crank pins 19 which project from thelarge gear wheels 20. The gears 20 are rigidly secured to a shaft 21,supported for r0 tation in bearings carried rigidly by the foundationtimbers. The gears 20 mesh with pinions 22, rigidly keyed to a shaft 23,mounted also in bearings which are supported by the same timbers of thefoundation as the bearings which support the shaft 21. The shaft 23 isextended to one side of the foundation and carries a pulley wheel 24which receives power from a suitable source through the driving belt 25.

With the parts as above described, when power is applied, through thedrive belt 25, pulley 24, shaft 23, and pinions to the large gears 20,rotation of the latter will, through the pitman, cause reciprocation ofthe yoke 12, and of the pump rod 6, to which latter the usual pumpplunger or piston is connected. Referring to Fig. 2, a rotation of thegears 20 in a contra-clockwise direction as seen in this view, willcause a downward movement of the pump rod, thereby causing the tubularspring guide 10 to descend through the guiding aperture in the plate 7,the flange 10a by such movement compressing the heavy spiral spring 11,and thus storing power in the spring to be subsequeTitly applied inlifting the load, which consists of the weight of the lunger rod,plunger, and liquid in the well.

he downward movement thus described is about to begin when the partsoccupy the po-. sitions shown in Fig. 2, with the gears 20 moving in thedirection indicated by the arrow, so that when the down stroke of thepump rod is taking place the major portion of such stroke is made duringthe time that the itmen 17 are more nearly in line with the gui e rodsand the pump rod, thereby effectively applying the power received fromthe belt 25, in storing up that power in the spring. The weight of theliquid in the well and of the pump parts, consisting of-the rod andplunger, is added to the power received from the belt in compressing thespring. After the crank pins on the gears 20 have traversedapproximately 180? in making the down stroke, the movement of the crankpins from this point upward is applied to effect the 11fting or workingstroke, in which the power of the spring 11 is largely instrumental. Theparts are so proportioned and arranged that the spring 11acts'essentially as a c unterbalance as its force is exerted inopposition to the load which must be overcome in the upstrokes of thepump. In the application of power to the yoke or cross bar 12, to causethe pump rod to descend, during which the spring 11 is compressed, thestrain imposed upon the parts is such that to effectually resist thesame it is necessary to provide a rigid frame-work, and this has beenfound in practice to be ample with the arrangement of guide rods 8 whenthe latter are firmly anchored in the foundation timbers 1, 2, at theirlower ends, with the upper ends thereof secured together by a plate orbridge 7, and such arrangement is employed in connect on with the yoke12, having at opposite ends thereof the connections 17 with the crankpins 19 on the large gears. This particular arrangement serves tominimize the lateral strains which are applied to the pump rod throughthe spaced gear wheels 20 and p nions 22, together with the tubularspring guide which insures a straight line movement of the upper portionof the pump rod during trated in Fig. 3, I have provided three spiralsprings 31, in lieu of the single spring as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, theother parts which are assoicated with the springs being slightlymodified conformably with the addition of the two extra springs. In thisconstruction, the pump rod 6 extends upward, through and beyond the yoke12, through a hole in a flange or plate 32 which may have suitablebracing cables 34 extending downwardly therefrom to the foundation tosteady the structure. The guide rods 8, threaded at their upper ends,pass through apertures in the plate 32 on opposite sides of the pump rod6 and are secured to the plate by nuts 35. The rod 6 is provided with alock nut 42 which acts as an abutment for a plate 36 under the stress ofthe three spiral springs 31, the central one of which surrounds thetubular spring guide 10. The lower end of this guide is arranged to passfreely through a circular aperture in a flange or plate 38. The plate 38is provided with holes on opposite sides of'the central aperture whichreceives the tubular guide 10, through which pass the guide rods 8, andthe plate 38 is supported upon the guide rods by lock nuts 40. Tubularspring guide sleeves 41, 41, extend between the plate 36 and the plate38, and the spiral springs 31, surround. the tubular guides 10, 41, theplate 36 being provided the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

with apertures 39 which permit it to slide freely over the tubularguides 41 when the pump rod is caused to move downwardly under the powertransmitted thereto through the yoke 12.. Power is appliedto this yoketo reciprocate the pump rod through the pitmen 17, gears 20, and pinions22, whlch latter are carried by the shaft 23, havlng thereon the pulley24, which'receives power from a. suitable source, through the belt 25,as in Upon the downward movement of the pump rod 6 in the constructionnow' being described, the plate 36 is caused to descend, carryin with itthe central tubular guide 10, but sli ing freely over'the tubular guides41, such downward movement efl'ectingthe compression of the threesprings, thus storing up power for use on the working or up ward strokeof the pump, as in the constructhe arrangement of the three tubularspring guides in connection with the plate.36, which,

being causedto travel in a right line as it moves dowpward to compressthe springs,

will not be permitted to tilt, or move out of line. This result isinsured by the three tubular guiding members, the central one,

10, of which reciprocates through a hole in the plate 38,,whilethetubular members 41 cooperate in the guiding function of the plate 36as the latter reciprocates over the tubular members 41 in the downwardmovement of the plate during the compression of the springs. I

In Fig. 4 stilladifieren-t modification is illustrated. In thisconstruction, where a single compression spring is utilized, the

yoke 12 is provided near its opposite ends with sleeves 44, which guidethe yoke truly in its reciprocating movements on the guide rods 8, andthe heavy spiral spring 45 encircles the pump rod 6, and is confinedbetween a plate 5a of the stufiing box 5-, on which the spring rests,and a washer 50 at the upper end of the spring, said washer bearingagainst the lock nut 13. "As in the construction illustrated in Figs. 1and 2, the yoke 12 is confined between the locknuts 13, 14:, which aresecured immovably by set screws to the pump rod 6. Further descriptionof the construction shown in this view of the drawings is believed to'beunnecessary, as the operation ofthe parts is the same as that in theform of the invention illustrated in Figs. land 2, the differencebetween the present modification, and that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 beingmainly in the arrangement of the counterbalancing spring below the yoke,instead of above the yoke, and in the consequent omission of the tubularguiding member within the spring.

Other modifications of the invention may obviously be made than thoseabove described, and it is to be understood that the invention is notconfined to the particular construction and arrangement of the partsdescribed, but may be varied provided such variations or additionalmodifications are within the scope of the following claims.

I claim e 1. In pumping apparatus of the class described, thecombination with a pump barrel and a pump rod, of spaced parallel guiderods on opposite sides ofthe pump rod having their lower portionsrigidly anchored in the foundation and their upper portions rigidlyconnected by a plate, a yoke mounted for reciprocation on said 'guiderods and directly connected with said pump rod, a tubular spring guideon said rod and constructed for reciprocating movements through anaperture in said plate, and a balancing spring surrounding saidtubularspring guide and confined between said plate and an abutment on the pumprod.

2. In a pumping apparatus the combination witha pump barrel and a pumprod therein, of spaced parallel guide rods rigidly anchored at theirlower ends in the pump foundation, and having their upper end portionsconnected by a plate, a yokemoun-ted to reciprocate uponsaid guide rodsand rigidly secured to said pump rod, a tubular spring guiding membersecured to said pump rodand arranged to reciprocate through a guidingaperture in said plate, a spiral balancing sprin surrounding said memberand con: fined etween an abutment on the pump rod, and said plate,.andmeans including spaced gears, crank pins on said gears, and pitmenconnecting said pins with opposite ends of said yoke to effectreciprocation of the pump rod and compression of said spring.

3. In pumping apparatus the combination with a pump barrel and pump rodmounted to reciprocate therein, of spaced parallel guiding rods arrangedon opposite sides of l and in line with said pump rod, the lowerportions of said guide rods being firmly anchored in the pumpfoundation, a rigid plate connecting the upper portions of said guiderods and provided with a central aperture, a tubular spring guidesurround ng said pump rod and arranged to reciprocate through saidaperture, a spiral counterbalancing spring surrounding said tubularspring guide and confined between said plate and an abutment on the pumprod, a shaft mounted in bearings supported by the pump foundation, gearscarried by said shaft and provided with cranks, pitmen connecting saidcranks with the outer ends of said yoke, and means for driving saidgears to effect reciprocation of the pump rod and compresslon of thebalancing spring.

4. Pumping apparatus of the class described, comprising in combination,a pump barrel and a pump rod mounted for recipro-- cating movements insaid barrel, guide rods spaced laterally upon opposite sides of saidpump rod and in line therewith, said gulde rods having their lower endsrigidly anchored in the pump foundation, a plate rigidly connecting theupper ends of said guide rods and provided with an aperture to receiveand guide the upper portion of the pump rod, a movable plate below thefirst mentioned plate, a tubular spring guide sur rounding the pump rodand connected with said movable plate, spring guiding tubular membersupon opposite sides of said first mentioned tubular spring guidingmember arranged to slide through apertures in said movableplate, spiralsprings surrounding said tubular members and confined between saidmovable plate and an abutment member supported against movement on saidguide rods and provided with a central guiding aperture to receive saidfirst mentioned tubular spring guide member, a yoke slidable upon saidguide rods and provided with an aperture to receive said pump rod, meansfor rigidly securing the pump rod to the yoke, and power operated meansfor reciprocating said yoke, pump rod, and movable plate to compresssaid springs during the downward movement of the pump rod.

5. In pumping apparatus of the class described, the combination with apump barrel and pump rod mounted to reciprocate therein, of spaced guiderods arranged in line with and upon opposite sides of said pump rod andanchored at their lower ends in the pump foundation, a plate rigidlyconnecting the upper portions of said guide rods and provided with acentral aperture to receive said pump rod. a movable plate connected tosaid pump rod and provided at its central portion with a downwardlyextending tubular spring guide member and upon opposite sides thereofwith apertures, spaced spring guide members supported upon oppositesides of said first named tubular spring guide member, an abutment platelocated at the lower end portions of said tubular guide members andprovided with a central aperture to receive and guide said firstmentioned tubular spring guide member, spiral balancing springssurrounding said spring guide members and confined between said movableplate and abutment plate, a yoke slidably mounted upon said guide rodsand secured to said pump rod, and means for reciprocating said yokeincluding a shaft mounted in bearings on the pump foundation, pinions onsaid shaft, a second shaft mounted in bearings on the pump foundation,gears meshing with said pinions and supportedby said shaft, crankscarried by said gears, and pitmen connecting said cranks with the outerend portions of said yoke.

6. Pumping apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination,a pump barrel, a pump rod mounted to reciprocate therein, guide rodslocated in line with and upon opposite sides of said pump rod and havingtheir lower ends anchored firmly in the pump foundation, a plate rigidlyconnecting the upper end portions of said guiderods, a yokereciprocating upon said guide rods, means for rigidly securing said yoketo said pump rod, a spiral balancing spring surrounding said pump rodand confined between an abutment below said yoke and a pump rod stuffingbox member, and means for reciprocating said yoke comprising a shaftsupported by bearings on the pump foundation and carrying pinions, asecond shaft supported by bearings on said foundation and carryingspaced gears meshing with said pinions, crank pins carried by saidgears, pitmen connecting said crank pins pivotally with the outer endsof said yoke, and power fneans for driving said pinions.

7. A pumping apparatus of the class described comprismg, 1n combination,a pump barrel, a pump rod mounted to reciprocate thereimguide rodslocated in line with and upon opposite sides of said pump rod and havingtheir lower ends anchored firmly in the pump foundation, a platerigidlyconnecting the upper end portions of said guide rods and providedintermediate said uide rods with an opening to receive and gui e thepump rod, a yoke reciprocating upon said and 8. A pumping apparatus ofthe class described comprismg, in combination, a pump barrel, a pump rodmounted to reciprocate therein, guide rods located in line wlth and uponopposite sides of said pump rod and having their lower ends anchoredfirmly in the pum necting t e upper end'portions of said guide rods andprovided intermediate said guide rods with an openin to receive andguide the pum rod, 9. yo e reciprocating upon said gui e rods andprovided with an aperture intermediate said guide rods to receive thepump rod, means for rigidlysecuring said yoke to said pump rod, a heavyspiral balancin spring surrounding said pump rod and con ned thereon soas to be compressed upon downward movement of the yoke to counterbalancethe weight of the pump plunger and column of liquid in the well,

and means for reciprocating said yoke, in-

eluding a shaft supported by bearings on the pump foundation, pinions onsaid shaft, a

v second shaft supported by bearings on said foundation, and carryingspaced gears meshing with said pinions, cranks supported by sald gears,pitmen connecting sald cranks pivotally with the outer ends of saidyoke, and power means for driving said pinion shaft. x

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set ngyhand this 17th day ofSeptember, A. D. 1

JOHN H. YOUNG.

foundation, a plate rigidly con- 7

